1999 BUICK CENTURY change time

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GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK,
the BUICK Emblem and the name CENTURY are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
ªGeneral Motors of Canada Limitedº for Buick Motor
Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you're on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propri‡taires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en fran†ais chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9
Litho in U.S.A.

Copyright General Motors Corporation 1998
Part No. 10416926 A First Edition All Rights Reserved

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This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
This system has a range of about 3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m). At times you may notice a decrease in
range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry
system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have
to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to
work, try this:

Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions that follow.

Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.

Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.

If you're still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.Operation
Press UNLOCK once to
unlock the driver's door and
to turn on the interior lamps
(see ªIllumination on
Remote Activationº in the
Index for more details).
Press UNLOCK again within five seconds to unlock all
the doors. To lock all doors, press LOCK. To unlock the
trunk, press the trunk symbol on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. The trunk will only unlock if your
transaxle is in PARK (P).

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Instant Alarm
This feature allows you to activate an alarm by pressing
a button on the remote keyless entry transmitter. Your
vehicle's ignition must be off for the Instant Alarm to
work. When you press the horn button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter, your vehicle's headlamps will
flash, the horn will honk repeatedly, and your interior
lamps will illuminate, attracting attention if you need it.
The alarm will continue until:

You press the alarm button on the RKE transmitter a
second time,

the vehicle's ignition is in RUN, or

an alarm period of about two minutes has elapsed.
Security Feedback
Security Feedback provides audible and/or visible
feedback that a remote keyless entry lock or unlock
command has been received and executed. Your
vehicle's ignition must be off for this feature to work.
You may select one of four operating modes for
reception of a lock command. You may also select one
of four operating modes for reception of an unlock
command. The selection and programming of the lock
and unlock operating modes are independent of each
other. The following modes are available for either lock
or unlock verification:Mode 1: No Verification
Mode 2: Horn Chirp only
Mode 3: Headlamp Flash only
Mode 4: Horn Chirp and Headlamp Flash
The operating mode of the Security Feedback lock
feature will be changed when you perform the following
sequence with your vehicle's doors closed and the
ignition key in RUN:
Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, press and release the
remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter lock button.
This will start the customization mode. While in the
customization mode, the feature will sound the number
of chimes corresponding to the current Security
Feedback lock mode.
Each additional press of the RKE transmitter lock button
will cause your vehicle to advance the lock mode by
one, starting from the current lock mode. If cycled
beyond lock Mode 4, the vehicle will enter lock Mode 1.
During this procedure, the feature will sound the number
of chimes corresponding to the current lock mode,
providing you with feedback. When the door lock
switch is released, the vehicle will remain in the most
recent lock mode.

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The operating mode of the Security Feedback unlock
feature will be changed when you perform the following
sequence with your vehicle's doors closed and the
ignition key in RUN:

Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While
holding the door unlock switch, press and release the
RKE transmitter unlock button. This will start the
customization mode.

While in the customization mode, the feature will
sound the number of chimes corresponding to the
current unlock mode.
Each additional press of the RKE transmitter unlock
button will cause your vehicle to advance the unlock
mode by one, starting from the current unlock mode. If
cycled beyond unlock Mode 4, the vehicle will enter
unlock Mode 1. During this procedure, the feature will
sound the number of chimes corresponding to the
current unlock mode, providing you with feedback.
When the door unlock switch is released, the vehicle
will remain in the most recent unlock mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the lock and
unlock Security Feedback features.Delayed Locking
Delayed Locking allows the doors to be locked while
passengers are exiting the vehicle. This feature also
provides a brief time period after all the doors are
closed, but before the doors are locked, in which the
doors may be reopened. Delayed Locking is user
programmable for enabling or disabling the feature.
Delayed Locking is activated when a door lock switch is
pressed while the key is not in the vehicle's ignition, and
a door is open. The door lock switch may be either the
lock switch on the door or on the remote keyless entry
transmitter (see ªRemote Keyless Entryº later in this
section for more details). The doors do not lock when
the lock switch is pressed, but instead, three chimes are
heard. These chimes indicate that the Delayed Locking
feature has been activated.
You have three actions possible once Delayed Locking
is activated:

Cancel the Delayed Locking by pressing the unlock
switch or by fully inserting the key in the ignition.

Override the Delayed Locking feature and lock the
doors immediately by pressing the lock switch a
second time.

Let the Delayed Locking feature complete the
locking of the vehicle.

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If you wish to let the Delayed Locking feature complete
the locking of the vehicle, no additional action is
required. The Delayed Locking feature will lock the
doors automatically after all the doors have been closed
for a period of five seconds. During this five second
period, any door may be reopened, at which time the
three possible actions shown above are again available.
You may also customize your vehicle to activate the
Delayed Locking feature as described above, or you
may choose to completely disable the feature at all
times. If disabled, the power door locks will activate
immediately when a power door lock switch is pressed.
The enabled/disabled state of the Delayed Locking
feature will be toggled when you perform the following
sequence with the doors closed and the ignition key
in RUN:
1. Apply your regular brakes.
2. Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While
holding the door unlock switch, move the shift lever
out of and back into PARK (P).After an initial transaxle cycle, each additional cycle
will toggle the enable/disable state of the Delayed
Locking feature. During this procedure, the chime will
sound, providing you with feedback. In Mode 1, a single
chime will be heard if the Delayed Locking feature is
disabled. In Mode 2, two chimes will be heard if the
feature is enabled. When the door unlock switch is
released, the vehicle will remain in the most recent
operating mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the Delayed
Locking feature.
Illumination on Remote Activation
This feature provides interior lighting when a remote
keyless entry door unlock command is received and
executed by your vehicle. Your vehicle's ignition must be
off for the Illumination on Remote Activation feature to
work. The interior lamps will light until your vehicle's
ignition is turned to RUN or for a period of 40 seconds has
elapsed. If a door is opened during the illumination period,
the timed lighting will be canceled, and the interior lamps
will remain on since a door is open.

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2-12 Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any
remaining transmitters with you when you go to your
dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have only four transmitters
matched to it.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about three years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won't
work at the normal range in any location. If you have to
get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it's probably time to change the battery.
NOTICE:
When replacing the battery, use care not to
touch any of the circuitry. Static from your
body transferred to these surfaces may damage
the transmitter.

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You can customize the vehicle to activate Delayed
Headlamp Illumination when your vehicle's ignition is
turned off under the conditions described above, or you
may choose not to activate this feature under any
conditions. You can turn the feature on and off when
you perform the following sequence with the doors
closed and the ignition key in RUN:
1. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the headlamp
switch on and then off two times.
2. Release the power door lock switch. These steps
must be carried out in a time period of less than
10 seconds, followed by a delay period of no more
than 10 seconds.
3. Then, press and hold the power door unlock switch.
While holding the door unlock switch, turn the headlamp
switch on and then off two times. Release the courtesy
door unlock switch. These operations must be carried out
in a time period of less than 10 seconds.
After releasing the door unlock switch, a single chime
will be heard if the Delayed Headlamp Illumination
function has been disabled; two chimes will be heard if
the feature has been enabled. Disconnecting the
vehicle's battery for up to a year will not change the
programmed operation of this feature.Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving the LIGHTS dial. If you turn the dial past
MAX, your courtesy or interior lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also turn these
lamps on by twisting or turning the interior lights knob
all the way to the right.
Illuminated Entry
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you press UNLOCK on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it's open
and then turn off automatically about 25 seconds after
you close it. If you press UNLOCK and don't open a
door, the lamps will turn off after about 40 seconds.

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Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. See
ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index. It will take a few
driving trips to turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
ªFuelº in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start
-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Warning Light
If you have a problem with
your oil, this light may stay
on after you start your
engine, or come on when
you are driving.
This indicates that oil is not going through your engine
quickly enough to keep it lubricated. The engine could
be low on oil or could have some other oil problem.
Have it fixed right away.
The oil light could also come on in the
following situations:

The light will come on briefly when you turn on the
ignition to show you that it is working properly.
(If it doesn't come on with the ignition on, you may
have a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it fixed
right away.)

Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, the
light may blink on and off. This is normal.